A/N: This would be a good cliff-hanger ending, right? Maybe. However, it would be cruel to leave you wondering like that. I'll do another chapter, and then call it done. Of course, remember, it doesn't stop there. I still intend to make that prequel and sequel. )
EPOV: When we got home, Emmet was waiting eagerly on the porch. I waved to him. He grinned. I sighed, then turned to Bella.
"Have fun with Alice. I'll be home around ten." My expression must have been pained, because she smiled and said, "Have fun, and don't spend the whole time worrying about me. I'll be fine. Remember, I'm in a house full of vampires." I chuckled.
Emmet came bouncing up in that two-year old style of his. "Come on, brother. It's a minute to twelve. You promised we'd leave at exactly twelve!"
I grimaced and followed him to his jeep, waving to Bella as I climbed in on the passenger side. She smiled and waved.
For the first bit of the drive, Emmet remained silent. But all good things come to an end.
"So, what's it like, Edward? Being a wolf?"
"Shut up, Emmet."
"Aw, come on. Don't be mad at me."
I sighed. I might as well try to enjoy this, since I was now stuck with Emmet for about ten long, painful hours.
"Fine. I won't, if you can think of something else to talk about."
He remained silent, thinking of something that didn't involve me exploding into a wolf. Too soon, he spoke. "Are you going to eat the bears?"
"Perhaps. I don't know if that's a good idea for me or not. I'll ask Jake once I've phased."
I turned and looked out the window. We were there. I sighed and jumped out of the car. Turning to Emmet, I said, "I'll be right back. I need to go change." He grinned. I could see how excited he was. I grimaced and ran into the woods. When I was out of sight, I focused and felt the odd sensation I was already getting used to. I turned, a wolf, and ran back to where Emmet stood waiting.
I heard him thinking about the taste of the bear blood. In his mind's swollen-shut eye, he was leaping on the back of a bear and ripping its throat out.
I hate to interrupt your fantasy, but I'm back. He looked at me, surprised. "Cool, so you really can do that!"
Yes, Emmet. Now if we have to do this, can we please just get it over with?
He grinned. "Let's go!" I growled lightly, hoping it would sound exasperated, and tore after him. I got a good distance ahead of him, then called back to him. Hurry up, Emmet! I'm just beginning to enjoy myself. Don't spoil it by staying so far behind me all the time.
I heard his booming laugh before he appeared suddenly beside me. "I could outrun you any day. Have you asked the other dog if you should eat our catch?"
Hold on. I moved my thoughts to Jacob, blocking out all others. I tried to call to him. After a minute, he answered. Edward, is that you? Why are you a wolf? His mind was overflowing with questions, but he asked those. My brother Emmet took me hunting. He pretty much forced me, actually. We're hunting bears. Can I eat any without having a bad reaction? He thought for a minute, recalling a few times when he had eaten other animals. It's fine. Have a good time. He felt awkward saying that, but I thanked him anyway and backed out of his mind. I turned to Emmet. I should be able to. I just feel bad. I don't need to kill these animals. It's like hunting for sport. What will Carlisle say when he finds out? Emmet shrugged.
"I don't care. Besides, it's just like an over-achieving wolf is hunting for his necessary food. What's the problem?"
Two things come to mind, Emmet. First of all, why would a wolf be hunting a bear? And secondly, what about you? He grinned. "Have you even looked at my eyes lately? They're black." I glanced up at him. Crap, he was right. I decided that I may as well get over it and go hunting, ignoring the fact that he had avoided my first question.
Without another word, I turned away from him and sniffed the air. To my great pleasure, I smelled a bear only about a mile away. I growled and took off running in the direction of the scent. Emmet tried to follow, but, as it always had been, I was able to easily outrun him. I came within sight of the bear. It was a monstrous grizzly. Nice, I thought to myself. I was on the brute's back before it could so much as know I was there. I ripped its throat out. Emmet appeared a few yards away, scowling. I stepped away from the grizzly, changing my mind about the whole eating thing.
His black eyes glanced at the blood pouring onto the ground and up to my face. Take it. I don't want it. Emmet turned away, but even I could smell the blood, and he finally gave up and went to get a much-needed drink. I drifted into the forest and laid down on a stretch of mossy ground, waiting for Emmet to finish his little meal.
Suddenly, a searing pain electrocuted my head. I yelped, sinking into unconsciousness.
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I was still unconscious. I could tell that much. However, I could hear Emmet's thoughts beside me. I could feel the ground, too. But I couldn't move. Everything was black. Suddenly, I heard Jane's voice.
"Hello, Edward. I see that you've managed to deal with your newest change quite well. Aro thought he'd have me give you a little message. You see, because Carlisle is a good friend of his, he's decided to give you another chance. You have a month. After that, we will come to check on you. Do not disappoint us."
I growled, but it was too late. I was able to move again. I stood up and opened my eyes. Emmet was staring at me. "Edward, you okay? What happened there?"
Volturi. Jane decided to check in on me. We've got a month. Let's get back to hunting, please. Emmet laughed and stood up. "'Kay, bro. How about we go home in an hour? Your girlfriend will want to see you."
Sounds good. I smell a bear just a few miles east of here. Go get 'em. Emmet didn't need to be told twice. He immediately took off running, laughing as he went.
I got bored waiting, so I contacted Alice, hoping to find out if Bella was okay. Of course she was, but a danger magnet like her needed constant surveillance. Alice? It's me, Edward.
Edward? Oh, hi. What's up?
Emmet's off tackling a bear, so I decided to check on you, and, more importantly, Bella. Is everything okay?
Yes, Edward, everything's fine. Get back to hunting, if you're going to do as you and Emmet just decided and come back in only an hour.
Alright, alright. Just checking. Can you blame me?
Not really, but you are so prone to overreactions. Back off now. I'm giving Bella a makeover.
I sighed inwardly and left her alone. Emmet was back in another minute.
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I could feel the fun of the afternoon wearing off, being replaced by cold, hard dread as we neared the house. I knew half of me wanted to be a vampire again, but another half of me didn't want to be that monster, to bite my love, to endure the three days of blinding pain. I saw Bella's truck waiting outside, so I guessed she was going to try to get me to allow her to stay by me the whole time. I grimaced to myself. I didn't want her to see that.
I leaped out of the car as soon as we had come to a stop. Bella ran up to me. "Edward…. Do you still want to do it tonight? Carlisle said he wouldn't mind…."
"Do you mind?"
"No. I just want you to be happy. Besides, it's your choice." I grabbed her, holding her in place and forcing her to meet my gaze. I could tell that my face held a tortured expression. She winced, tears brimming in her eyes. "Bella," I began softly, "I need to know what's wrong. I won't do it if you don't want me to. Please."
She looked up at me again. "I know you have to do this. I'm just… afraid for you. I know how much it will hurt. I wish it didn't have to be that bad…."
"Bella, I can handle it. I promise. I just don't think you ought to watch…."
Her face quickly became stubborn. "Edward, I will stay with you, and you can't do a damn thing about it." Her firmness surprised me.
"Bella, please. It will only disturb you, and-"
She sighed, exasperated. "I don't care. I really want to. Besides, you don't deserve to have to go through that all alone." I saw that arguing with her wasn't going to get me anywhere. "Okay, Bells. I'll let you, but if you get too upset, please remember that it wouldn't hurt me if you left the room." She smiled, running her hand through my hair.
"Thanks." I wiped away her tears, smiling softly but tensely.
Carlisle appeared beside us. "Are you going to stick with it?"
I nodded stiffly, gritting my teeth. "Yes."
CPOV: I led the way into Edward's room. I felt very sorry about what I was about to do. Stealing my adopted son's life away again and subjecting him to that pain was unforgivable. It was necessary, though. Bella sat at the head of the bed and Edward sat beside her, shivering.
"Edward," I said softly, putting every ounce of patience into it that I could, "tell me when you're ready." He nodded, extended his wrist, face up, and closed his eyes. I leaned in, slowly sinking my teeth into his wrist. He gasped. I quickly released him. His breathing started coming in gasps, and he suppressed a scream. His eyes were wild. He nodded, a movement hard to notice for all the shaking. I took it to mean that he wanted to be with Bella alone, so I quickly left.
BPOV: I put my hand on Edward's forehead. He was screaming, shaking, his eyes full of pain and horror. "Bella." He weakly said my name. A little half-smile spread across his face, but it was quickly overcome with another grimace of pain. My eyes filled with tears. I laid down beside him, pulling him up against me, holding him as if it would shelter him from the pain. He focused on not moving too much. I hugged him tightly. He turned with some effort and hugged me back. He whispered into my ear, gasping with pain. "Thank you-for staying with me." I pulled back enough for us to be face to face. Quickly, I leaned in and kissed him. I felt his tears running down his face, but he kissed me back, still hyperventilating.
